Edgy Tim O'Halloran on national signing day | Weird, wild stuff in the Class of 2012

February 01, 2012|By Tim O'Halloran, Special to the Tribune

This has been one of the strangest recruiting years in recent memory.

How else to explain Iowa landing more in-state players (5) than Illinois (4) and Northwestern (4)?

We've seen several recruiting processes run the gamut in this class.

Joliet Catholic senior running back Malin Jones signed his letter of intent to play for Northwestern 16 months after orally committing. That's like 10 years in recruiting years.

"A few schools really tried to change my mind and they sort of hovered around for a long time," Jones said. "But I just felt really strong in my decision and those other coaches knew that all along.

"Most kids who commit so early usually end up re-evaluating their decisions, and in most cases they end up elsewhere. It's easy to see why a lot of kids change their minds because some of these coaches are great salesmen."

Simeon offensive tackle Jordan Diamond won't announce his decision until Friday. He took the old-school approach, going on all five official visits allowed under NCAA rules. He will pick between Auburn, Arkansas, Michigan and Wisconsin.

But waiting has its pitfalls. Just ask top-ranked Class of 2012 prospect Tommy Schutt of Glenbard West.

Like Diamond, Schutt had multiple early offers from schools across the country. He was set to give Notre Dame his oral commitment, only to learn the Fighting Irish filled up at his position an hour before Schutt called to commit.

Schutt then called Michigan coaches to set up an unofficial visit, only to find out the Wolverines also filled up at his position. Schutt eventually chose Penn State.

But he reconsidered his decision after the Jerry Sandusky scandal broke, visited Ohio State and flipped his commitment to the Buckeyes.

Montini receiver Jordan Westerkamp signed with Nebraska, but not after some suspense after Notre Dame offered him late. To his credit, Westerkamp stayed with the Cornhuskers. But it's hard to blame a kid who attends a Catholic school in the Chicago area for looking at Notre Dame.